Please review the Referee Advancement Policy
in order to familiarize yourself with the upgrade process.There are 5 steps involved in the upgrade process.
You MUST complete the first step and receive approval before proceeding.
The other steps can be completed in any order. Once started, the Intermediate Clinic/exam,
Fitness Test and Assessment(s) MUST be completed within a 12 month period. The clock starts with the
completion of any one element. Criteria for upgrade are described below.

Once the review process has been completed, you will be notified either that your application
has been approved or it has been denied. If approved, you can proceed with the upgrade process.
If denied, you will be notified as to the reason(s) for the denial.

Grade 7A to 6: 19 hours of Advanced classroom training. 80% on State Exam. The State exam is given
during the yearly recertification.
The SDI will approve the attendance at any particular advanced clinic and the number of hours
credited for said clinic. Such clinics may include a State Referee Certification Clinic
given in another state; the Annual Alabama State Referee Clinic; US Soccer Referee Training
Seminars (Pro Clinics); some of the training at the Region III Tournament;
some of the training at Region III ODP Summer Camps

You MUST complete the required assessment(s) for your grade. Mail a Request Form for each assessment to the SDA
105 Spring Meadow Drive Huntsville, AL 35824, along with a check or money for the appropriate amount ($70 per assessment
requested at least 2 weeks in advance, $75 at least 1 week in advance and $80 after October 1). A minimum of 2 weeks
notice is required to schedule and ensure availability of assessor. Request forms may be e-mailed
as an attachment, with stipulation that payment and original form are to be mailed immediately. The SDA will
appoint an assessor and communicate this to the referee. If particulars of the match change, the referee
is responsible for contacting the assessor directly.
Any out-of-state upgrade assessments MUST have prior approval by the SDA.

Games which the assessor deems as non-competitive or not a “test” of the referee’s abilities,
do not count for an upgrade, even if the referee’s performance was satisfactory. You will
still have to pay for the assessor – through the SDA. If the referee fails a non-competitive
match, the game counts as a failure, and will need to be replaced (for State Referee only).